Colossians 1:16-29 (message originally given Nov 16, 2008)

TRUTH: That which is opposed to a falsehood, lie or deceit. Some truth is revealed rather than attained. Secular humanism elevates the human mind at the expense of divine revelation. Spiritual truth is revealed to the inner man when Jesus Christ becomes Savior and Lord to that individual. John 1:14; 8:32; 16:13; Hebrews 10:26.

RELATIVISM: States that no absolutes transcend culture and time. Relativists believe that the truth changes over time. Truth is not defined by an infallible God, but by a person, culture, and community. Malachi 3:6; Daniel 7:25; Psalm 90:4; Hebrews 13:8.

COMPARTMENTALIZATION: Results when everyone decides on his own what is right and wrong. People establish their own set of ethics for each compartment of their lives. This facilitates living with blatant contradictions between one’s persona and one’s private life. Judges 21:25; Romans 1:25; 1:18 Romans Chapter 1; James 1:18.

PRAGMATISM: Teaches that truth is whatever works for you. Adherent’s no longer base truth in the timeless principles of God’s Word, but on what feels right at the time. Romans 1:25; Galatians 2:14; II Thessalonians 2:10, 12; I Timothy 6:5; Luke 19:14. 

TOLERANCE: Is the one value embraced by a worldview that rejects absolute truth. It teaches everyone’s beliefs, values, lifestyle, and perception of truth claims are equal. It teaches there is no hierarchy of truth, so a belief in Jehovah God is ignorance. It ingrains in your mind that all beliefs are equal; all truth is RELATIVE. Christianity stands on absolute truth and the inerrancy of the Bible. That Jesus is THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and the life. The secular world views this as intolerant because it implies that all other religions are inferior, therefore, those who teach and demand tolerance – demand intolerance of Christianity.

SECULAR HUMANISM: Elevates the human mind at the expense of divine revelation. Teaches that man is his or her own god, there is no existence after death.

WORLDVIEW: Provides a way to engage the vast range of human thought and origin.  The powers of the new age/one world is not nation/states, but ideologies, ideas by the conquering of the human mind.

PLURALISM: That many religious beliefs exist and that all are right, that all beliefs are capable of saving or liberating.  The one religion that is picked out as NOT RIGHT is Christianity and, therefore, must be silenced or destroyed.

HENOTHEISM: The belief that people select who or what they will worship while accepting the validity of other religious options.